Chapter 87

"Did you pick it up on your way?"

"Open it up and take a look."

Perez looked at me again and opened the box with a careful touch.

As soon as a little sunlight hit, hundreds of thousands of glittering jewels appeared.

"Is this... a diamond?"

It is a diamond brooch specially made for Perez.

He didn't even touch a diamond he'd never seen before, he just looked at it.

"How? Do you like it?"

"...Glamorous."

It's an ambiguous sentiment.

To be honest, with a little bit of sadness, I deliberately put my utmost effort into it.

"I custom-made it for you."

"I like it."2

Without thinking for half a second, he answered right away.

I think he's a bit quick to change his posture.

"Don't just watch it. Try to see if it suits you."

I was going to pretend to be cool.

I couldn't win the impatience and said.

After a moment of hesitation, Perez pulled out the brooch and put it on his chest.

The jewel polished with the most colorful method of cutting by Crowly was so beautiful that I couldn't stop looking at it despite its being so shiny that hurt my eyes.

"Wow."

In the background, Kylus let out a small exclamation.

I couldn't agree more with that feeling.

The brooch was made only for Perez.

The same was true of high purity and large diamonds, but this was even more so in harmony with the humpstone, which was crafted in the same way.

"I knew it would look good on you."

I was proud that Perez's beauty seemed to come to life even more.

Kylus and Caitlyn nodded vigorously as if they agreed with me.

"Thank you."

Perez curiously, unable to take his eyes off the diamond.

"But it must have been very expensive."

"Well, a little?"

A little bit no.

If you were going to pay for this brooch, it would have cost you hundreds of gold.

It's all the more so because it's a diamond that we can't sell these days. After all, the ransom has jumped several times.

I shrugged and asked Perez.

"You dress up here and there. You'll look good anywhere."

Perez nodded, fiddling with the brooch on his chest.

But he soon put the brooch back in the box.

"I'll do it on a special day."

"Well, it's up to the person who got the gift."

Perez seemed to be in a very good mood now, seeing a smile subtly around his mouth.

Neither did I.

It's funny how presenting Perez made me realize I was the owner of a diamond mine.

"We're about to get back..."

I was going to say let's go back to Poirak Palace because I thought there was a cold wind.

"Hmm? There's a guest."

The familiar and resonant voice of Emperor Jovanes was heard.

The Emperor was not alone.

Behind the Emperor, who entered the garden with him behind his back, was the Empress and Astana.

Perhaps the Empress, who invited Astana to spend time with the Emperor, would not hide her discomfort.

And first of all, Astana, who was looking at me, made eye contact.

Astana, now 15 years old, was completely in his adolescence.

It was also closer to what I remembered as Astana the First Prince.

"I greet Your Majesty the Emperor, the Empress, and the First Prince."

I hurried up from my seat and greeted in good manners.

"Someone did, and it was you."

Jovanes took turns looking at Perez with curious eyes.

And in the end, he talked to me in a friendly voice.

"It's been a long time, Florentia. Was it the last time Gallahan was awarded the Order of Medal for National Foundation?"

A smiley face saying that really looks like a friendly next-door guy.

In fact, it's hard to imagine that he's slicker than anyone else and calculates political gains and losses.

Either it wasn't an attitude towards Perez or an act of weighing his own interests above his children.

Anyway, Jovanes is the Emperor of this Empire.

I said with a white smile on purpose as if I was ashamed.

"You even remember that. It's an honor, Your Majesty."

"......"

Jovanes said, opening his eyes round and then smiling.

"You speak so beautifully."

"Thank you for your compliment. Your Majesty."

Polite and cute.

But at the same time, there is no reason to be afraid, and with great determination.

Because I'm Lombardy.

I smiled softly, not avoiding the Emperor's gaze.

Then a shadow crossed the eyes of the Emperor.

The Emperor, who had been looking at me for a while, turned his head slightly and looked at the Empress and said,

"There's no place like this for a cup of tea. Why don't we join them, Empress?"

That's what the Emperor says, and the Empress has something to say.

"So it be, Your Majesty."

But at the same time, she didn't forget to stare at Perez as if she was going to kill him.+

Additional tables and chairs were placed were Perez and I were.

Such an awkward and uncomfortable place has been set up.

Astana and Perez, who happened to sit face to face, did not even look at each other, and the Emperor drank tea alone in such an uncomfortable atmosphere.

No matter what other people do, you just have to be comfortable with yourself.

He was such a despicable emperor.